Combined steam and internal-combustion motor.



No. 696,856. Pafented'AprpI, I902.

F. n. .CLARK.

COMBINED STEAM AND INTERNAL COMBUSTION MOTOR.

(Application fllad fhlay 20, 1901.) (No ModeI.) 4 sheets sh'apt I,

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No. 696,856. Patented Am. I, I902.

F; D. cLABK. cousmzn STE'AMAND INTEB'NALGOMBUSTIONV moms.

(Applicatidn filed may 20, 1901.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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@NIIIJ V 2 w 1 l a pm Imam No. 696,856. Patented Apr. I, U902. F. D.CLARK.

COMBINED STEAM AND INTEBNAL GOMBUSTION MOTOR.

I (Application filed May 26, 1901.) I (No Model.) 4 Shets-Sheet 4.

Miran STATES FRED D. CLARK, OF MCDONALD, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMBINED STEAM A ND INTE SPECIFICATION forming part-of LettersApplication filed May 20, 1901,

T all whom (it may concern):

Be it known that I, FRED D. CLARK, a citizen of the United States,residing at McDonald, in the county of Washington and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in aCombined Steam and Internal-Combustion.Motor; and I do declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

The object of this invention is provide an engine or motor which may bedriven either by steam or an explosive mixture and may be with verylittle trouble converted to act as a steam-motor or internal-combustionmotor at will.

The invention consists in an engine or mo tor embodying certain novelfeatures of con struction, combination, and arrangement of parts, aswill be hereinafter more fully de scribed, and particularly set forth inthe appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is an irregular verticallongitudinal section of the motor on the line 1 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on line 3 ofFig. 2, omitting the piston. Fig. 4 is a cross-section through thesteam-chest, showing the slidevalve thrown out of operative position.Figs. 5 and 6 are detail sectional views showing the manher in which theinduction-valve and checkvalve are held open when the device is used asa steam-motor, and Figs. 7 and 8 are de tail views of the means forsecuring the slidevalve stem to its sliding block. Figs. 9 and 10 aredetail sectional views showing the two operative positions of theslide-valve for controlling the admission and exhaust of steam.

The numeral 1 in the drawings represents the engine-cylinder, which maybe mounted in any preferred manner. 2 is the piston which operatestherein. 3 is the piston-rod which communicates motion to the crankshaft4. 5 is the steam-chest; 6, the U-shaped slide-valve therein governingthe three ports 7, 8, and 9, and 10 is the steam-supply pipe openinginto the steam-chest.

The slide-valve stem 11 is so connected to the valve 6 as to be operatedto throw said valve into and out of operative position at will.

RNAL-COMBUSTION MOTQFt.

Patent NO. 696,856,0lated April 1, 1902. Serial No. 61,090. (No model.)

To this end the valve is formed with parallel flanges 12, having slots13 to loosely receive the stem 11, which latter carries a dog or lever14, adapted to abut against thebody of the valve and against a pin orcontactpiece 15, fitted in said flanges, to slide the valve toward orfrom its seat at will, so that the valve may be moved into position tocooperate with the ports 7, 8, and 9, or away from its seat to expose orleave all of said ports open, as desired. The valve-stem 11 is operatedby the crank-disk 16 or an eccentric on the shaft 4 and is screwed atits outerend into a block or box 17, slidably mounted. in a bearing 18,having a flange 19 for attachment in any suitable manner to one part ofthe engine-frame. A nut 20 screws onto the thread ed end of the stem andbinds against the block 17 to hold the stem secured thereto againstaxial movement. Then it is desired to throw the slide-valve into or outof operative position, the nut 20 is loosened up and the stem turned oroscillated in one direction or the other to force the dog against thebody of the valve 6 or the pin 15 to force the valve toward or from itsseat, as will be readily understood. A lever 21 may be connected to thevalve-stem to enable it to be easily turned.

A water-jacket 22 maysurround the cylinder, through which water may becirculated to cool the cylinder when the device is usedasanexplosive-motor. Ahot exploding-tube 23 or its equivalenta sparkingdevice of any preferred kind-is also provided for use when the "deviceis used as an explosivemotor.

' The port 7 communicates with a chamber or passage 2st on one side ofthe cylinder 1, and this chamber or passage 24: is in communicationthrough a port 25 with a valve-box 26,controlled by a gas-inductionpuppetvalve 27, and opening into the box 26 is an air-inlet pipe 28;

In the valve-seat of the port 25 is a series of gas-induction ports 29,which communicate with a gas-supply pipe 30, having a controlling-valve31, governing the passage of the gas therethrough and to the said ports29. The valve 27 has a stem 32, which projects downward through thebottom of the box 26 and has connected thereto a nut or head 33, betweenwhich and the said bottom of the box.

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is a coiledspring 34, encircling said stem and adapted to hold the valve27 normally seated. To the lower end of the stem 32 is connected one ofa series of jointed levers 35, 36, and 37, which are also connected tothe valve 31 to operate the same to open and close said valvesynchronously with the opening and closing of the valve 27.

The intermediate lever 36 is formed with a slot 38 to receive anadjusting bolt and nut 39 on the lever 37, whereby the stroke of saidsystem of levers may be lengthened or shortened to regulate theoperation of the valve 31 to admit more or less gas, as desired, and toproperly time the inlet of the same from the pipe to the ports 29. endof the valve-box 26 is mounted an internally-threaded annular boss orsocket 40, which is adapted to receive the open threaded end of a cap orretracting-tube 41 for holding the valve 27 off its seat in the mannershown in Fig. 5 and as hereinafter more fully described.

The passage 9 is in communication with a passage 42, leading through thewall of the cylinder, to the right-hand end of said cylinder, for theadmission and exhaust of steam and gas, as hereinafter described.

The passage 3 communicates with an inclined passage 43, extendingdownward and rearwardly therefrom, and communicating at its opposite endwith one end of the valvebox or passage 44 on the bottom of the cylinderand extending toward the left-hand end thereof. The outer end of thesaid box or passage 44 forms a port in communication with theleft-handend of the cylinder, which port is provided with a valve-seat 45 for thereception of a check-valve 46. This valve has a downwardly-projectingstem 47, extending to the exterior through the bottom of the box orpassage 44 and carrying one or more heads or nuts 48, between which andthe box 44 is a spiral spring 49, encircling said stem and acting on thehead 48 to draw the stem 47 downward, and thereby to normally hold thevalve 46 seated. An annular internallythreaded boss or socket 50,similar to the boss or socket 40, is formed on the box 44 and is adaptedto receive a retracting tube or cap 41, of the construction heretoforedescribed, for holding the valve 46 off its seat when it is desired toemploy the device as a steam-motor, as hereinafter more fully explained.

Exhaust-ports 51 are formed in the wall of the cylinder for the exhaustof the spent gases and products of combustion therefrom when the deviceis used as an explosive-motor or gas-engine.

The operation is as follows: When the deviceis used as a steam-engine,the lever is disconnected from the stem 32 of the valve 27 and theretracting caps or tubes 41 ap- Upon the lower operated as the pistoncommunicates motion to the crank-shaft 4, through the instrumentality ofthe eccentric 16. Figs. 9 and 10 show the two positions of theslide-valve 6 for controlling the supply and exhaust of steam to theopposite ends of the cylinder. When the valve is in the position shownin Fig. 9 to admit steam to the right-hand end of the cylinder, the livesteam passes through the ports 9 and 42 to the right-hand end of thecylinder and drives the piston to the left, the exhaust from theleft-hand end of the cylinder passing through the port 45, passage 44,passage 43, ports 8 and 7, to chamber 24, through the open portorpassage 25, and thence to the atmosphere through the air ad missionand escape pipe 28. Steam passes to the left-hand end of the cylinder,as shown in Fig. 10, through the port 8, passage 43, passage 44, andport and exhausts from the right hand end of the cylinder through thepassage 42, port 9, through the recess in the slide-valve to the port 7,thence into chamber 24, through the port 25 in the valve-box 26, and tothe atmosphere through the pipe 28. In this operation of the device as asteamengine it will be seen that the valves 27 and 46 are not used, butare held open to form free passsges for the supply and exhaust of steamto both ends of the cylinder.

When the device is used as an explosivemotor, the retracting-caps 41 aredetached from the bosses or sockets 40 and and the lever 25 connected upwith the valve-stem 32. Both valves 27 and 46 will then be held normallyclosed by their springs 34 and 49 in readiness for operation. Theslide-valve 6 is then thrown out of operative position by loosening upthe nut 20 and turning the stem 11, by means of the lever 21, to throwthe crank arm or dog 14 to the right in Figs. 3 and 4 to contact withthe pin 15, and thereby force the valve 6 away from its seat, so as toleave the ports 7, 8, and 9 normally open or exposed. The nut 20 is thentightened, and the valve 6 may then reciprocate with its stem, but at apoint beyond or outwardly .from said ports 7, 8, and 9, so as not toaffect the same. As the piston 2 moves to the left in the cylinder gasis drawn in through pipe 30 and ports 29 simultaneously with air throughthe pipe 28, and the air and gas combine andpass into the chamber 24,and thence through the port 7 to the chest 5, and from there through theport 9 and passage 42 to the right-hand end of the cylinder. Then as thepiston moves to the right'the valve 27 closes, the mixture of gas andair is forced back through the passage 42, port 9, chest 5, port 8,passage 43, passage 44, and through the port 45 into the left-hand endof the cylinder. On the piston again being moved to the left the valve46 closes and the mixture is compressed and exploded by means of the hottube or sparking device 23, and at the same time a fresh charge of airand gas is drawn into the righthand end of the cylinder. As the pistonis ICC movedto the right by the force of the explo-' tion a shortdistance from its seat, and as the motion increases said valve will belifted further from its seat and will-thereby operate,

through the medium of levers 35, 36, and 37, inlet of gas. By means ofslot 38 and adjustable conthe valve 31 to gradually cut off the motion39 the lever 36 maybe lengthened or shortened to adapt the valve 31 tobe closed at a longer or shorter period, as desired, to ad-' mit'more orless gas into chamber 24, as will be readily understood.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the construction, mode of operation, andadvantages of my invention will be apparent, and it will be seen thattheinvention provides a simple and convenient type of motor, which isreversible at will and with slight expenditure of time andlabor to beoperated through the medium of either an expansive fluid or explosivecharges. The device will be found of great convenience for use in manykinds of establishments and for different purposes Where a convertibleengine of this type can be utilized and supplied with power througheither or both of the aforesaid sources.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. A combined steam and internal-combustion motor comprising a cylinder,a steamchest, a spring-closed air and gas induction valve, aspring-closed check-valve for admitting the explosive mixture to one endof the cylinder and closing to preventthe escape of the same undercompression, a valve in the steam-chest for controlling the supply ofsteam to the cylinder, steam, air and gas connections controlled by saidvalves, means for throwing the induction valve and checkvalve out ofoperation against the tension of theirsprings when the device is used asa steam-motor, means for throwing the valve in the steam-chest out ofoperation When the device is used as an explosive-motor, a gassupplyvalve, and an'adjustable system of levers connecting the said gas supplyvalve with the air and gas induction valve, substantially as described.

2. In a combinedsteam and internal-combustion motor, the combination ofa cylinder, a piston operating therein, a crank shaft driven by thepiston, a steam-chest, an air and gas supply pipes, ports andpassagescommunicating between the steam-chest, air and gas supply pipes and theopposite ends ofthe cylinder, a slide-valve in the steam-chest, an airand gas induction valve controlling the passage of air and gas into thesteam-chest for admittance to the cylinder, the check valve forcontrolling the admission of explosive mixture to one end of thecylinder,means for holding the induction and checkyalves open for thefree passage of the steam through the ports andpassages'controlled'thereby, when the device is used as a steam-motor,means for throwing the slide-valve out of operation whenthe device isused as an internal-combustion motor, avalve in the gas-supplypipe, andvariable connections between the air and gas induction valve and gas-supply valve for operating the latter, substantially as described.

3. In a combinedsteam and internal-combustion motor, the combination ofa cylinder, a piston operating therein, a crank-shaft driven by thepiston, a steam-chest, an air and gas supply pipes, ports and passagescommunicating between the steam-chest, air and gas supply pipes and theopposite ends of the cylinder, a slide-valve in the steamchest, an airand gas induction valve controllingthe passage of air and gas into thesteam-chest for admittance to the cylinder, the cheek-valve forcontrolling the admission of explosive mixtureto one end ofthe-cylinder, means for holding the induction and check valves open forthe free passage of the means through the ports and passages controlledthereby, when the'device is used as a steam-motor, and means foroscillating the stem of the slide-valve for throwing said valve outof'operation when the device is used as an internal-combustion motor,substantially as described.

4:. In a combined steam and internal-combustion motor, and incombination with a cylinder, a steam-chest, air and gas supply pipes,andports and passages communicating between the steam-chest, air and gassupply pipes and the opposite ends of the cylinder, an air and gasinduction valve, a box or chamber therefor,having a threaded socket, astem attached to the valve and sliding through said socket, a springacting on the stem to IIO hold the valve closed, and a threadedretracting-tube adapted to be inserted into said socket, to hold thevalve open against the tension of said spring, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a combined steam and internal-c001 bustion motor, and incombination with a cylinder, a steam-chest, air and gas supply pipes,and ports and passages communicating between the steam-chest, air andgas supply pipes and the opposite ends of the cylinder,

an air and gas induction valve, a gas-supply valve in the gas-supplypipe, a spring for closing the air and gas induction valve, means forholding said valve open against the tension of said spring, and avariable system of.

levers connecting the said induction-valve with the gas-supply valve,substantially as described.

6. In a combined steam and internal-combustion motor, and in combinationwith a cylinder, at steam-chest,air and gas supply pipes, and ports andpassages communicating between the steam-chest, air and gas supply pipesand the opposite ends of the cylinder, an air and gas induction valve, abox or chamber therefor, a stem attached to the valve and sliding in thebox, a spring acting on the stem to close the valve, and means forholding the valve open against the tension of said spring, a gas-supplyvalve in the gas-supply pipe, and a system of pivoted operating-leversconnecting the induction and gas supply valves, one of said levers beingdetachably connected with the stem of the induction-valve and anotheradjustably connected with the stem of the gas-supply valve,substantially as described.

7. In a combined expansion propelled and internal-combustion motor,acylinder,a piston therein, a steam-chest, a slide-valve therein providedwith slotted parallel flanges and a contact-piece, a valve-stem looselymounted in the slots of the flanges and carrying a dog adapted to abutagainst the body of the valve and the contact-piece to move the valvetoward and from its seat, and means for oscillating said stem,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

FRED D. CLARK.

Witnesses: I

WM. MADGWIOK, S. C. PETERSON.

